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Feb. 20, 1962 T. N. PANAY SOUND PRODUCER Filed Aug. 25. 1958 2Sheets-Sheet 1 alba-wy PWM-@ 1 JWM/16W- 1o.! Mja.

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Feb. 2o, 1962 T. N. PANAY 3,022,385

SOUND PRODUCER Filed Aug. 25, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .i l'yzgg 2. gzgj.2:29.15.

ATTORNEY Patented Feb.. 2o, rasa 3,022,385 SOUND PRODUCER Takis N.Panay, 1120 Vermont Ave. NW., Washington, D.C. Filed Aug. 25, 1958, Ser.No. 757,056 13 Claims. (Cl. 179-113) The present invention relates toionization devices which admit to various applications such asproduction of or reproduction of elastic vibrations in a molecularmedium such as air or any ionizable fluid including liquids, and hasparticular reference to an improved loud-speaker in which a continuousionic or a Continous corona discharge is provided, the discharge beingmodulated by a Sound modulated current such as is obtained from a radioreceiver, a phonograph amplifier, a telephone or a microphone.

Disadvantages of conventional loud-speakers using electromagneticarrangements are due to their mechanical impedance in terms of the mass,compliance and resistance of the arrangements.. Disadvantages ofconventional ionization type of loud-speakers are due-to ineffectivemeans to control the hissing sound usually present in such type ofloud-speakers.

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to an ionization typeloud-speaker including means that overcome the disadvantages mentionedabove for prior art devices.

Basically, the present invention provides a novel and improvedionization type loud-speaker in which the ionization is not produced bycausing ionization by an electrode which is one of the two electrodesbetween which a suitable voltage is applied to drive ions generated fromone of the electrodes along lines substantially between the twoelectrodes to which electrodes the control voitage is also applied; butionization thereof is produced by means such as an incandescent wire orwires, a flame, an arc, radiation impinging upon a cathode, a series ofpoint discharges, or other similar ionization means so disposed thations are produced to be driven initially in a direction perpendicular tothat direction between two or ymore electrodes effecting a controlvoltage upon the ions. It is noted that the control voltage system mayalso contribute to increasing or decreasing the amount of ions generatedin addition to the sound producing effect of driving the ions indirections toward and away from each of the two electrodes. In thepresent invention, this ionizing effect can be diminished as desired.

The basic device of the invention, in distinction over the prior artdevices, comprises a separate and unique ionization system providing forthe introduction of a bulk or cloud of ionized particles or ions into aspace between at least two ion producing electrodes, and a separate andunique control system of electrodes having impressed .thereacross asignal or control voltage for moving the cloud of ionized particles orions in accordance with the signal or control voltage for therebyproducing the effect Vupon the surrounding air of loud-speaker.

y In the loud-speakers of the prior art it is evident that a cloud ofions are produced substantially by a D C. voltage impressed upon a pairof electrodes and projected into a direction toward or away from eitherof the said electrodes upon which also the signal or control voltage isimpressed, which characteristic is responsible usually for some unwantednoise or distortion. It is an object of this .invention to eliminatethis deterrent effect b-y producing and projecting the ions into thespace between the electrodes at not too great a velocity and having,occasionally, their coordinate motion of projection intensified by ,ameans such as a fan so that no noise or distortion is generated thereby,and so that the vions are allowed to form a cloud or layer or spacecharge, so that upon activation thereupon by the control voltage orsignal impressed upon other electrodes, the moving cloud of ions reactsupon the surrounding air much in the same manner as a diaphragm, buthaving substantially no mechanical impedance. Furthermore, in thisinvention the ions can, when desirable, be caused to originate, partlyor wholly, outside the space between the control electrodes.

It is a further object of the invention to provide additional electrodeseither between the control electrodes, or interposed about the ionsource electrode to provide for improved regulation ofthe controlvoltage upon the ion cloud or the production of the ions themselves inthe ionization system of the invention.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent upon full consideration of the following detailed descriptionand accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. l is a broken away view, partially in schematic Vand elevationrandpartially inperspective, showing the basic concept of the invention;

FIG. 1A is a plan View of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is a broken away perspective view of a modification of the basicconcept including a plate and regulating grid element;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an electrical circuit employing the newdevice according to the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 1A;

FG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an electrical circuit employing thedevice according to the present invention shown in FIG. 2;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are cross-sectional views of the surface of the inner orouter electrode providing for sharp points along the surface, or forsmooth heini-spherical protuberances or bulges along the surface;

FIGS. 7 and 8 show modifications in the construction of the ionizingmeans used vin accordance with the terms of the invention;` f

FIG. 9 shows a conical form of disposing the electrodes in accordancewith the present invention; and

FIG. 1() shows an enclosure within which the new device according to thepresent invention may be used, which enclosure may contain air or othergas or uid under a pressure;

FIG. 11 shows an embodiment of the invention having a pair of cathodesas an ionizing source on alternate halfcycles of an A C. source andhaving a pair of grids for regulating the ionization generated by thecathanodes;

FIGS. 12 to FIG. 19 shows the basic feature of the new inventionprovided with varying arrangements of electrodes together with biasingor voltage sources connected thereto.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a soundproducer device 8according to the invention having mounted and arranged coaxially to acenter line 10 thereof, an inner electrode 12 and an outer electrode 14to each of which is respectively coupled a signal voltage desired to betranslated by the loud-speaker device from electromagnetic waves tosound waves in accordance therewith. An ionization discharge means suchas an incandescent wire or filament 18 for causing or effecting orproducing an ionization discharge or cloud of ions to be introducedbetween the inner electrode and outer electrode is mounted at one end ofthe coaxial arrangement. Other Well known ionization discharge means mayappropriately be used, such as a flame or flames, an arc or arcs,ionization type of radiations, a series of point discharges, a cathanodeelectrode or pair thereof, and the like, each disposed in a suitablemanner, preferably at one end of the coaxial arrangement, and betweenthe inner electrode and the outer electrode, for fairly uniformlyaffecting the charged space or cloud between the inner electrode andouter electrode into ionization. Appropriate interconnections betweenthe ionization discharge means and the coaxial arrangement having thesignal voltage impressed thereon may be through a ground connection orother means. The incandescent filament may consist of any portion ofplatinum together with any portion of any of the various elements,compounds or alloys commonly used for forming an incandescent lament,including substances that are coated for the purpose of increasing theemission of the incandescent filament. The electrode may also be heatedby electronic bombardment or any other suitable way.

Although the ionization discharge from the incandescent filament movesinto the space between the inner electrode and the outer electrode at arelation substantially coaxial to the center line 10, in the preferredform the ionization discharge progresses from the filament into thespace between the said electrodes in a relation perpendicular to theradii of the said electrodes. This feature v is accomplished in thepresent invention by positioning a fan 20 below the incandescentfilament 18, or by positioning a biased electrode 22 above the coaxialarrangement to provide for drawing the ionization discharge through thespace between the said electrodes.

It is observed, therefore, that there is no, or substantially noionization produced by impressing the control or signal voltage or aconstant potential drop or bias upon the electrodes of the coaxialarrangement, but that all, or substantially all of the ionization isderived from an ionization discharge means. r1`he signal voltageproduces a substantial oscillatory motion of the ion cloud rather thancausing the ionization to vary in accordance with the signal voltage.The signal voltage impressed between the electrodes 12 and 14 maycontribute to increasing the amount of ionization discharge presenttherebetween, but the primary feature is an ionization discharge meansfor producing an ionization discharge perpendicularly disposed to thefield of signal voltage applied to the electrodes 12, 14.

`Within the scopeof the invention is a feature of providing atri-electrode arrangement as particularly illustrated in FIG. 2, whereina regulating electrode or grid 24 is interpositioned concentricallybetween electrodes 12, 14. The grid 24 may be constructed of perforatedmetal, screen wire, wire in a matrix of zigzags, wire in the form ofgauge, or the like.

The purpose of the grid 24 is for more accurately providing a control ofthe ionization discharge in sound producer device S for transformingelectromagnetic waves into sound waves, wherein the sound waves areusually elastic vibrations of frequencies within the audible range,although not necessarily limited thereto.

Because of the principles of similarity or duality, circuit connectionswell known with vacuum or gaseous multielement tubes may be employed inusing the device of FIG. l or 2, such as is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and4. Well known variants are understood to be, of course, the use ofbatteries or rectiers coupled between the electrodes for providingrespective biases between the electrodes, as well as resistances,capacitors, etc. Also additional electrodes may he used in thetri-electrode arrangement so that it is of what is commonly known as atetrode or pentode type arrangement.

In FIG. 5, the surface of the inner electrode 12, or the other electrode14 or both, may be constructed of a relatively smooth surface, or it maypresent sharp points thereon, in order to increase or'improve thecontrolling action of the ionization discharge; if necessary to avoidundesirable noise, as hissing, smoother spherical, orhemi-spherical-like protuberances or bulges of high curvature may bepreferred as shown in FIG'. 6. The amount of curvature is of a value notto exceed a value which would be safe from the unwanted production ofnoise.

The outer electrode of the coaxial arrangement sound roducing device isof a configuration having perforations 2S to provide for the facility ofeasier disturbance of the air between electrodes 12, 14, and, thereforeto provide for the sound'to be communicated to the surrounding airexternal to the outer electrode.y Also, if preferred, the outerelectrode 14 may be constructed of wire gauze or similar material wellknown in the art.

Similarly, the inner electrode of the device 8 may be of a perforatedmaterial, or a wire gauze or the like, especially in the instance whenthe inner electrode 12 is planarly disposed to the outer electrode and abidirectional transmission of the produced sound is desired.

Substantially disposed parallel to the incandescent filament 18 of thedevice 8 and substantially generally perpendicular to the center line1t! thereof, is a plate shaped electrode or reflector electrode 30 ofeither circular or rectangular contiguration, and electrically coupledto the incandescent filament in such a manner that the potential thereofis negative with respect to the filament 18 by having interposed incircuit therewith a suitable source of (not shown). This arrangementprovides that the incandescent iilament 18 tends to direct thenegatively charged particles of the ionization discharge into the spacebetween the electrodes 12, 14 in a directed path substantially parallelto the elements of the cylindrical or coaxial arrangement, which in turnis parallel to the center line 10. The reflector electrode may be alsoconstructed of wire gauge to admit therethrough the passage of air suchas may be induced by the fan 20.

The general configuration of the filament may be circular and that ofthe reflector electrode may be substantially channel-shaped for moredirectly guiding the ionization discharge into the path of thetransversely disposed electric eld of the signal voltage impressed uponthe electrodes 12, 14.

In certain cases of loud-speakers, sound emitters, or other applicationsthe device may work in natural air or other ionizable fluid which mayinclude liquids, or it may be found advantageous that the device shouldbe placed in an enclosure containing air or other gas or otherappropriate ionizable fluid. At least one valve (not shown) may be usedto regulate the pressure wi-thin the enclosure so that the pressure willbe preserved at a certain desired value which may, for instance, beabout that of the surrounding atmospheric pressure, or higher or lowerpressures, when this presents an advantage.

Another valve (not shown) may be used to admit more gas when this isnecessary for the regulation of the pressure or of the ionization. Thegas may also be made to change continually in or circulate through theenclosure by any known systems producing such results. The enclosurewill be made of any convenient material, such as glass, rubber, plasticor metal. When advantageous, a part of the enclosure will consist of amembrane such as a plastic sheet or a thin rubber or neoprene sheet asthat used in rubber balloons; the membrane will be suitably set. Forinstance, when the inside pressure is not appreciably different fromenvironing atmospheric pressure, the membrane will be moderately or verylittle stretched, thus in the case of a loud-speaker where thevibrations are desired to be transmitted from the gas inside theenclosure to the surrounding air without distortion. Analogous changingor circulation devices, for ionization regulation, with any fluid may beused in the enclosure for use as underwater transducers. A particularcase of an enclosure is shown in FIG. l0,

ln FIG. 10 the ionic device surrounded by an envelope 31 may beconstructed in the form of a plug-in device wherein the envelopecomprises a material of either rubber, glass or metal. The envelope mayenclose a gaseous medium within which the elastic vibrations aretransmitted from the transversely modulated flow of ions, thuscharacterizing an inertia-less diaphragm. The physical characteristicsof the envelope are such that elastic vibrations in the medium aretransmi-tted through the envelope and into the molecular medium that maysurround the envelope.

When the ionic device is used at substantially atmospheric pressures,the envelope may be perforated to include a plurality of openings ofsubstantial sizes throughout the envelope in which case the envelopeserves as a mechanical shield and protection against the high tension`and security of the ionic device. The base may present similar openings.

Instead of fans as shown above in the case of FIG. 1, other means may beused to produce a similar result, such as any known suc-tion means.When, however, the design is such that the lament 18 is set verticallybelow the electrodes 12, 14, as in FIG. 1, and lament 18 is placed belowor at the lower end of the electrodes forming coaxial arrangement, Vandwhen the tempera-ture thereof is raised so that the surroundingatmosphere is heated, a Vertical rising draught will result bringing theions between the electrodes 12 and 14 even without fans or othermechanical forcing means.

In the invention the electrode system 12, 14 for receiving the signal orcontrol voltage is not combined with the filament system 18 forproducing the ionization. The two systems have been presented; the lirstis cylindrical in form for specially modulating the ionized cloud andthe second provides the ionization at the bases of a cylindrical systemreceiving the signal or control voltage. 'Ihe shape and disposition maybe varied. For instance, the shape of the control electrodes may beplanar and the shape of the ionization electrodes may also be planar.The ionizing system must be substantially perpendicular to the signal orcontrol voltage.

In FIG. 11 isk specifically shown an ionizing means such as a cathanodearrangement where the electrodes or cathanodes 34, 36 emit ions on eachhalf cycle of the alternating current applied thereto from the A.C.source 38. Also provided in the circuit arrangement is 'a pair of gridsor regula-ting electrodes 40, 42 for controlling .the flow of ions fromthe cathanodes proximate thereto which cathanodes are subjected to abias 44, 46 with respect to the remotely positioned cathanode. The rangeof frequency for the A.C. source 38 is preferably in the supersonicrange, i.e., any frequency above about 20,000 cycles per second, so thatthere is no introduction of noise into the sound producer device 8 asaudio signals are applied to the electrodes 12, 14.

In FIGS. 11 to 19 are shown various interconnections of the elements ofthe sound producer device 8 so that desired results are produced byapplying appropriate potentials or biases to the several electrodes. Theelectrodes may be interconnected from some common point as shown orthrough ground, so that the ionization producing filaments and theelectrodes 12, 14 are properly related.

FIG. 19 shows that a flame 48 may be used to produce an ionization cloudbetween the electrodes 12, 14.

A regulation grid 50 is shown above the electrodes 12, 14 in FIGS. 14,15, 16, 17, and 18 to provide for the control of the ion emission andiiow of the ions through the space between electrodes 12, 14 whenappropriate biases are connected thereto as shown, which bias isgenerally positive with respect to the potential applied to theionization prducing filament 18 and also to the collector electrode 22.

When the iiame is used as an ionizing means -a tube (not shown) fromwhich the iiames issue may be electrically connected with respect to theelectrodes mentioned in the same way as the incandescent wire. Theconnected part of the tube must, of course, be electrically insulatedfrom the preceding tubing (not shown). Similar connections with theelectrodes mentioned are provided when arcs Vare used to produceionization, as well as when other means are used to produce ionization.

Electrode arrangements such as those of the tetrode,

'6 pentode or other multielectrode type may be added to either of thetwo systems in accordance with the invention.

The control electrodes may be made of smooth surface metal sheets asshown in FIG. 1. When perforations are used, the openings constitutingthem will usually be relatively larger and more numerous than it isillustratively shown in FIG. 1.

Inductance coupling is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The coupling may beachieved as well in any other known means, such as by means of capacityor resistance.

The polarity of the connections between the dierent electrodes of theionization system is described to be in the same sence corresponding tothermionic vacuum tube systems. Since, however, in this case ionizationin a fluid takes place, said sense of polarity may, depending on thedegree to which the ionic discharge is exerted and on the nature of theionized substance, be advantageously reversed, the potential drop ineither case being given a suitable value including zero. Thejtwo casesmay be made to coexist; i.e., the collector electrode biased withrespect to the ionizing electrode may be made of two parts, one of theseparts being biased positive with respect to the ionizing electrode, andthe other part being biased negative with respect to the ionizingelectrode. One way of accomplishing this is to make each of the twoparts ofthe collector electrode in the form of a spiral and positionthem so that the turns of the two spirals alternate in going fro-m thecenter to the edge (not shown). Another way could be to space each ofthe two parts apart from the other and without sections of the one partinterposed between sections of the other part (not shown). Similarlydevelopments of arrangements may be accomplished with respect to anyother el-ectrode biased with respect to the ionizing electrode. Allthis, of course, also applies to gas filled discharge tubes.

In the case of the cathanode type described, a D C. so-urce can besuperimposed to the A.C. source in a manner as obvious toanyone skilledin the art. l

The device of FiG. 1l may obviously be understood without regulatingelectrodes 40 and 42 when a simpler form is desired with the sameresults being achieved. In the' same way FIG. 2 may be understoodwithout electrodeV 52 performing a function analogous to that ofelectrodes 40 and 42 of FIG. 11. Similar other possible omissions areobvious in a manner obvious to anyone skilled in thevart, in order toderive simpler forms of the invention when this is desired andsubstantially the same or equivalent results are achieved.

The position of electrodes, such as 52, 40, 42 may be as shown in thefigures or in any other suitable place realizing, of course, that here,as well as in all other such instances throughout the description of theinvention, that the other suitable arrangements `rnust be developed orachieved in a manner obvious to anyone skilled in this art, and that thesame or equivalent results, functions, structures, operation, etc. areachieved in accordance with the invention.

Two or more ionization means may be made to coexist and operatesimultaneously within the same device constructed according to theinvention. Thus, to an ionizing incandescent wire discharging points maybe attached, as already previously set forth for electrodes 18 or theincandescent wire may be given a shape presenting relatively highourvature points as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

When it is desired that the propagation of the sound reproduced orproduced be directional, any known means, such as placing the device ina horn or duly setting an appropriate sound reflector, may be used todirect the propagation of the sound in the direction or directionsdesired. This, of course, is not part of this invention, but isdescribed here to show obvious uses of the device of the invention.

When an envelope is used, any part of the envelope not useful fortransmission of vibrations through it, may be rendered less elastic bychoice of a less elastic substance (e.g. preferring lead to steel) or byacting on its shape (eg. on its thickness, or making it corrugated orridged.)

lt is also within the purview of the invention to provide the coaxialarrangement `for producing a cloud of ions that may be speciallymodulated along the direction of the center line by an upper and lowerplate by a signal voltage for producing a substantially highlydirectional sound wave. Sound vibrations or waves as used in thedisclosure includes subsonic, supersonic and hypersonic waves.

The device described is of reversible use or function. That is, ifsufliciently intense elastic vibrations such as sound waves are receivedin the medium' between the control electrodes, corresponding modulatedcurrents result in the circuit of the control system, and thus thedevice functions as a microphone, transmitter, or sound receiver.

The basic deviceof the foregoing description involves a separateionization electrode 18 system which provides the dischargeperpendicularly disposed to a separate control electrode 12, 14 systemwhich receives the signal or other control depending on the way in whichthe device is used.

Preferred embodiments of the invention have been described. Variouschanges and modifications however may be made within the scope of theinvention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An ionic device comprising a first circular electrode composed of anelectrically conductive substance and including an ion emitting portionthereof for producing a ow of charged particles in a predetermineddirection to form a hollow cylindrically configured mass iiow ofparticles, a pair of cylindricallycongured electrodes, one spaced withinthe other and each spaced from the first electrode for receiving ionstherebetween from the rst electrode and being composed of anelectrically conducytive substance for controlling the motion ofparticles in a radial direction and perpendicular to the predeterminedflow, said ow interposed uniformly between said pair of electrodes andbeing substantially continuous and diaphragmatic, said controlling beingeffected when a signal vvoltage is applied to the pair of electrodes forproducing sound in response thereto.

2. The ionic device of claim 1 wherein an additional control electrodeis interposed between the pair of electrodes.

3. The ionic device of claim 2, further having the said pair ofelectrodes of a wire gauze-like material.

4. The ionic device of claim 3, further comprising a reector electrodemeans for surrounding at least three contiguous sides of the ionemitting portion of the first electrode for directing the ow of ions.

5. The ionic device of claim 4, further comp-rising a fan means fordirecting the ow of ions produced from the ion emitting portion of therst electrode.

6. The ionic device of claim 4, further characterized by said reectc-relectrode means being constructed of wire gauze.

7. The ionic device of claim 4, further characterized by having a biasedelectrode positioned on the opposite side of the pair of electrodes fromthe ionization discharge means to draw the ion emitting portion of thefirst electrode through the space between the electrodes.

8` The ionic device of claim 7, further characterized by having a fanmeans for directing the iiow of ions produced from the ion emittingportion of the first electrode, and having the reiiector electrode meansand the biased electrode means constructed of wire gauze.

9. The ionic device of claim 2 including an envelope for enclosing thedevice.

10. The ionic device of claim 9 wherein the envelope is of a plasticsubstance.

11. The ionic device of claim 9 wherein the envelope is of glass.

12. The ionic device of claim 9 wherein the envelope is of metal.

13. The ionic device of claim 9 wherein the envelope is perforated.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,806,745 De Forest May 26, 1931 2,007,542 Lubcke July 9, 1935 2,112,034Livingston Mar. 22, 1938 2,157,719 Pulaski May 9, 1939 2,236,016Steenbeek Mar. 25, 1941 2,290,531 Brett July 21, 1942 2,326,877 MuellerAug. 17, 1943 2,390,250 Hansell Dec. 4, 1945 2,463,632 Labin et al Aug.11, 1949 2,578,571 Meier Dec. l1, 1951 2,835,836 Hsiung May 20, 19582,850,641 Martin Sept. 2, 1958 2,876,351 Conn Mar. 3, 1959 FOREIGNPATENTS 254,032 `Great Britain July l, 1926 303,175 Great Britain Jan.30, 1930 511,743 Germany Nov. 3, 1930 659,796 Great Britain Oct. 31,1951

